Smoking ... wedding party and guests

Can you tell them it's a non smoking event request of bridal party?

I don't think it's rude to say, hey can you avoid smoking in the bridal suite and once you've put on your dress?

Also, is the venue non smoking? Perhaps the staff could communicate that to your guests.

But honestly, I don't think you can stop adults from having a cigarette during the reception, but you can ask them to step far enough away so as not to bother the guests inside

I'm a smoker, and if anyone has any common sense they'll go a decent distance away from event. For the guests you could always make a decorative butt bucket and designate an area far enough from the event that it's a non issue, but not so far that it's a hike

My entire venue is smoke free thankfully! I would tell your wedding party and guests it's a smoke free facility. Easiest way to get out of being the bad guy.

Honestly, I don't think it's rude to politely ask them. Maybe ask for them to wait until after the ceremony/photos/etc. to smoke? I work in the restaurant industry, and when I remind my servers not to smoke before a shift, they understand.

As for guests, if your venue allows smoking, I would set up a designated smoking area far from the tent, along with a cute sign so it's more inviting.

My venue is not a typical wedding venue. It is an open air pavilion and reception is under a tent in a field. We are the first wedding to be held there and the venue has kinda been really lenient with rules. In the yearly event, the place was built for, smoking is allowed. I am liking the idea of designating a smoking area away from everything. Thanks, guys!

Maybe put up a small sign in a designated area for the reception away from the event. Also maybe have your officiant make an announcement that it's going to be a non smoking ceremony and have him announce that there will be a designated smoking section at the reception when everyone is being seated

Ive been wondering this too, but for a whole other reason. My sister is deathly allergic to cigarette smoke. I was wondering how to ask guests not to smoke when time comes.

@Tiffany - Ditto with my Mom. Being nowhere near smoke, was a priority for our venue. Smokers had to walk through the bar and cocktail hour room, up a flight of steps, and the hotel lobby, to get outside to smoke.

She's left a couple of wedding early, because they had a fire pit. Also another one where the smokers kept going in and out the doors and propped some open. She can use an inhaler and take a pill, but the burning eyes ultimately got to her.

I agree that it's reasonable to set up a designated area away from the rest of the event. I have terrible asthma and can't handle being around cigarette smoke, even outside. I'd bet some of your guests have health issues with smoking, so it's reasonable to ask that smoking be limited to a certain area for the interest of everyone's health.

Its your day ....Lay out the rules...that would bother me also I didn't think about that!

@dreamer. Its my worse fear about the wedding. We came out of walmart one time and some jerk blew smoke right in her face (not on purpose. He was putting out his cig before going inside) and she just dropped. We had to call ambulance and I used her epi pen ect... so scary.

@Tiffany - She'll never understand the popularity of fire pits and people sitting around them breathing in carcinogens. She never smoked, but was troubled by asthma and allergies from an early age. Thankfully she was never hospitalized for it, but came close a couple of times - actually should have gone there, more than once. One of her friends suffered a fatal asthma attack, when she was in her early 40s.

Have a designated smoking area at the reception.

You can ask them not to smoke after they are dressed, but I can guarantee you, that if they smoke a decent amount of cigarettes during a day, they are not going to hold off smoking until after the ceremony is over. Besides, the smell of smoke will be in their hair anyhow. Smokers just don't know how bad they stink, and that's coming from an ex-smoker.

As an ex smoker I know how uncomfortable I would be if I felt like I couldn't smoke. I would suggest setting up an ashtray and some seating far from the tents for smokers- so if someone is smoking you can graciously point them over there so they can be more comfortable. If you're worried about the BP smelling- they probably won't, not if they go outside and wash their hands afterwards. If you're giving them robes or button ups, ask them to wear them over their gowns if they go outside while getting ready.

Telling someone not to smoke isn't fair because they're addicted- knowing they can't have one will make them want one even more.

Also- febreeze! When I was a smoker I used to (embarrassingly) febreeze my hair a lot before going to work... lol

I do have a DOC. And I'm going to have a designated smoking area. Should that be apart of the pre ceremony announcements? Like when guests are being told where the bathrooms are and about no flashes when taking pictures?

Not to be rude but slap a patch on and don't smoke for a day.

@megan I think that could work, or just have staff direct people towards the area if they see them getting ready to light up. and yeah, after further thought I think you can totally ask them not to smoke before the ceremony.

Thank you everyone! I believe I now have a plan in place. I will email my DOC tomorrow about it as well.